Senior Benefits Specialist, Leave Administration

Job Description The Washington Post is looking for an energetic, thorough, and forward-looking team player to revitalize our leave practices and wellness initiatives. You will spend the majority of your time administering and streamlining leave processes and will also have a large focus on helping administer other benefits (such as health and retirement plans, FSAs, HSAs, etc.), conducting new employee orientation and executing wellness initiatives. This position is based in our DC office and reports to the Director, Total Rewards. Motivation: You like the challenge of balancing day-to-day whirlwind with project work. You pride yourself in a high level of accuracy, attention to detail, and discretion. You strive for excellent customer service, can explain complex concepts to non-technical audiences, and enjoy helping employees maximize their benefits. You are exceptionally organized and thorough, yet capable of moving quickly, managing several projects at the same time, and meeting deadlines. You constantly reengineer your day-to-day processes to increase speed, efficiency, and effectiveness. You enjoy performing a variety of benefits-related tasks. Responsibilities: Drive successful resolution of leave cases by reporting and monitoring claims, drafting leave agreements, liaising with employees, managers, and vendors, administering accommodation requests, and coordinating return-to-work activities. Ensure proper pay and benefits coverage for employees on leave by preparing advice to pay for Payroll and coordinating benefits premium collection with a third-party administrator. Process contractual comp time, vacation, and sick time payouts for unions-covered employees. Educate employees and managers about leave, benefit and wellness programs by answering questions, developing and maintaining communication materials, designing employee workshops, and updating the company intranet. Research best practices and develop recommendations for implementing new or enhancing existing leave programs. Develop and streamline processes for efficiency while ensuring positive employee and manager experience, consistency, and compliance. Ensure timely payment of vendor invoices by processing, reconciling, and tracking bills. Execute wellness initiatives by coordinating with insurance carriers, scheduling events, developing employee communications, and driving engagement metrics. Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field A minimum of five years of experience in benefits administration, with at least one year of experience in workers’ compensation and leave of absence administration Strong Excel and data manipulation and presentation skills Excellent written skills, including ability to develop HR documentation, forms, templates, and communication materials Excellent interpersonal and verbal communication skills, including ability to establish credibility and trust with management/leadership and handle difficult situations with diplomacy and professionalism Experience working in a union environment preferred Experience with Workday leave configuration is preferred. CDMS (Certified Disability Management Specialist) or CCM (Certified Case Manager) preferred. The Washington Post’s policy for employees is five days per week in the office, with exceptions for newsgathering and general business travel. Compensation and Benefits Wherever you are in your life or career, The Washington Post offers comprehensive and inclusive benefits for every step of your journey: Competitive medical, dental and vision coverage Company-paid pension and 401(k) match Three weeks of vacation and up to three weeks of paid sick leave Nine paid holidays and two personal days 20 weeks paid parental leave for any new parent Robust mental health resources Backup care and caregiver concierge services Gender affirming services Pet insurance Free Post digital subscription Leadership and career development programs Benefits may vary based on the job, full-time or part-time schedule, location, and collectively bargained status. The salary range for this position is: 85,100.00 - 127,700.00 USD Annual The actual salary within this range will depend on individual skills, experience, and qualifications as they relate to specific job requirements. This position may be eligible for a bonus or incentive program, and a member of the Talent Acquisition team will discuss bonus payment terms and conditions during the interview process. The Post strives to provide its readers with high-quality, trustworthy news and information while constantly innovating. That mission is best served by a diverse, multi-generational workforce with varied life experiences and perspectives. All cultures and backgrounds are welcomed. The innovation doesn’t end in the Newsroom – dozens of teams power The Washington Post. We are now hiring the next innovator – how will you Impact Tomorrow? #washpostlife The Washington Post is an award-winning news leader whose mission is to connect, inform, and enlighten local, national and global readers with trustworthy reporting, in-depth analysis and engaging opinions. The Post is as much a tech company as it is a media company, combining world-class journalism with the latest technology and tools so readers can interact with The Post anytime, anywhere. Our approach is always the same– shape ideas, redefine speed, take ownership and lead. Every employee, every project, every day.